MOGA, January 19: Congress President Ms Sonia Gandhi’s visit to Moga was today cancelled due to bad weather. In her message announced at the rally by the party in-charge for Punjab Thakur Gulchain Singh Charak, she said, she was sorry that she could not make it to the rally due to the bad weather.
However, Ms Gandhi promised, she will ensure to come and meet the people of Punjab who have suffered violence and excesses at the hands of the Akali-BJP government in Punjab during the last five years. She told them to stand firm and united and ensure that the Congress came to power in the state.
The Congress President in her message to the party workers said, she and the entire senior leadership of the party was with them and will provide all kind of support needed to ensure to bring party back to power in the state. She said, the worst was over and it was matter of few days more when the people of Punjab will have a friendly government led by the Congress unlike the current one which has victimized people all over.
Tens of thousands of people had gathered here in the new grain market to listen to their leader. Despite severe cold people had started coming since morning and by 12 o’clock the entire venue was crammed to capacity.
Acknowledging the people’s support, the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Capt Amarinder Singh expressed his apologies to them for the inability of the Congress President to reach there. He said, since the security and well being of Ms Gandhi was more important than anything else, it was not advisable to fly in the bad weather. He said, he had conveyed their sentiments to her as how they waited since morning in this biting cold to listen to her and that had made her more keen to come over.
Capt Amarinder said, she told him to convey to the people that she will ensure to come to Punjab and meet and speak to them. He said, she was quite keen to come to Moga but was advised against flying in the bad weather.
Among others present on the occasion included Sangrur MP Vijay Inder Singla, who was the in-charge of the rally, party contestants Joginder Pal Jain from Moga, Darshan Brar from Bhaga Purana, Kaka Lohgarh from Dharamkote, Avtar Brar from Faridkote, Ripjit Brar from Kotkapura, Joginder Singh from Jaitu, Naresh Kataria from Zira, Bibi Harchand Kaur from Mehal Kalan, Ajit Singh Shant from Nihal Singh Wala, Isher Singh Meharban from Jagaraon and Mohd Sidique from Bhadaur.
Besides, senior party leaders including Punjab Mahila Congress president Dr Malti Thapar, Moga District President Ms Jagdarshan Kaur, Muktsar President Gurdas Girdhar, Inderjit Zira and Vijay Sathi, and others were also present on the occasion.